[The age-related characteristics of the lymphoid structures in the human respiratory organs]

It was found that the wall of the tracheo-bronchial tree and the lung stroma of man has two types of nodules: those located in the mucous membrane and adjoining the epithelium and those located in the fibrous-cartilagenous part of the wall of the trachea, bronchi and stroma of the lungs. The latter serve the purpose of defense of the internal medium of the body. It was established that lymphoid nodules of the respiratory organs undergo age-related involution. According to the authors' classification perivascular lymphoid nodules and lymphoid nodules of the mucous membrane of the tracheo-bronchial tree belong to a single immune system of the internal medium and mucous membranes participating in immune homeostasis.